We still have the silver kobolds to rescue from the prison ... Will we not need to make rolls and such for that?
Likely - but you can - theoretically - socially get them out.
In other words - over the next coming days - I'm going to be pretty busy compiling notes - during that time - instead of standard fights, if there are any - you can simply socially RP the fights - the guards, if there are any - will be pretty simple - and honestly - I just won't have the time to monitor combat the way I should while I get all this stuff put together.
That said - if you come to a guard - you are basically free to "take 10's" on your combat - provided you do average damage. Then we'll just say if you kill them - or not - and go from there...
But again - this party has a knack for surprising me. If everyone said "let's go back to the city first, then get the kobolds" - well, stranger things have happened - and I'd be poorly prepared.
So - you guys socially RP what you want to do - if I need a roll - I'll let you know, but I hope not, and even then - I hope the rolls are pretty basic - like "Yeah, just toss up a diplomacy roll to see how that turns out" - kind of thing.
Meantime - I'm on Skype if anyone needs to chat directly.
good luck!
Curioser and Curiouser...
Okay - how's this for fun -
Some of you want to go by the "core rules" for city building - others are more interested in "home brew" rules.
Here's the skinny -
While book 2 had one set of rules for city building/government - book 3 had another set. As we are going by "core rules" - this means that government must align to book 3.
This can be found at this link - which was accurately posted on the reference site - Here you go.
The above link is actually the exact rules used for governing the city in book 3 - very short and simple.
As Saravale is being governed this way - I recommend reading it over. There will have to be some merger for how Saravale will grow - as there is no formal ruling for it now.
Anyhow - just thought I'd toss that out there...
More to come soon...
I think Arasmes and I need to first "open a store" and start the small school in the back or some public place. Then once we get approval by the council we can claim the mountain stronghold thing and converet it as needed.
We'll have to wait until we get back to civilization for that.
I think Arasmes and I need to first "open a store" and start the small school in the back or some public place. Then once we get approval by the council we can claim the mountain stronghold thing and converet it as needed.
We'll have to wait until we get back to civilization for that.
Claim the mountain stronghold? That will be an interesting conversation indeed...
To all -
Still getting notes together - with the sudden downshift on how things work between book 2 and 3 it puts a bit of a crimp in my plans. So - be patient - it will be up soon!
Why would that be a particularily interesting conversation?
Curioser and Curiouser...
Okay - how's this for fun -
Some of you want to go by the "core rules" for city building - others are more interested in "home brew" rules.
Here's the skinny -
While book 2 had one set of rules for city building/government - book 3 had another set. As we are going by "core rules" - this means that government must align to book 3.
This can be found at this link - which was accurately posted on the reference site - Here you go.
The above link is actually the exact rules used for governing the city in book 3 - very short and simple.
As Saravale is being governed this way - I recommend reading it over. There will have to be some merger for how Saravale will grow - as there is no formal ruling for it now.
Anyhow - just thought I'd toss that out there...
More to come soon...
I could go with either one but I am more inclined to use the rules from book two at least at the beginning. Mostly this is because we haven't actually gotten the chance to see how they work and the new rules dont seem to give much in the way of how you build up a town other than by population. Basically the book two rules take into account what we do and provide to the town but the book three rules don't it looks like. Like I said I could go either way but I am inclined to go with the book two rules.
Combat manager This may help to make clearer maps. You could screen shot and send it out. Just a thought.
Is anyone interested in rescuing the silver kobolds from the western side of the mainland? I checked the boards upon waking to find no postings, only a handful of discussion points.
Dain asked us to socially rp the rescue -- so let's do it as a group.
Shae, what do you want to do with Galen? He's your apprentice even though the GM runs him. Are you going to send message to him, retrieve him personally, etc? Is he joining us on the kobold rescue mission?
Why would that be a particularily interesting conversation?
Well, that is kind of my opinion - as I see it, you are offering to stake a claim on territory that may have very important power or significance for the country as whole - the council is filled with various colorful people/personalities at this time; not all of the council may wish to allow another party to claim the mountain as their own. As such, there may be a debate - I kind of assumed that debate may be interesting - rather then a simple black and white determination.
But of course, that is only my opinion... conversely - it may be a very dull conversation :)
i have my RL game night on tuesdays, so i can't really manage to post and a lot of work to get done today. But i'll be on tonight, Pacific time... i k ow its' less convenient, but such is my schedule.
I could go with either one but I am more inclined to use the rules from book two at least at the beginning. Mostly this is because we haven't actually gotten the chance to see how they work and the new rules dont seem to give much in the way of how you build up a town other than by population. Basically the book two rules take into account what we do and provide to the town but the book three rules don't it looks like. Like I said I could go either way but I am inclined to go with the book two rules.Curioser and Curiouser...
Okay - how's this for fun -
Some of you want to go by the "core rules" for city building - others are more interested in "home brew" rules.
Here's the skinny -
While book 2 had one set of rules for city building/government - book 3 had another set. As we are going by "core rules" - this means that government must align to book 3.
This can be found at this link - which was accurately posted on the reference site - Here you go.
The above link is actually the exact rules used for governing the city in book 3 - very short and simple.
As Saravale is being governed this way - I recommend reading it over. There will have to be some merger for how Saravale will grow - as there is no formal ruling for it now.
Anyhow - just thought I'd toss that out there...
More to come soon...
The important thing to remember is that both rule sets attempt to achieve the same goal.
The primary goal is the town's size/population (Hamlet, Village, Small Town, and so on...)
This category will then lead the players to a streamlined chart. The chart will present the following data -
1. Every month there are a specific amount of unique magic items that are available for purchase in a town. These items are determined by the town's size - the larger the town, the more items, and the greater power potential they will have.
If a player looks over the 3 items available and sees nothing they like - they need not buy the items, and - after 3 "months" - the GM re-rolls and puts in new random items.
2. Based on the size of the town, the players will discover that a town has a limited amount of resources to expend for a specific item. So - for example - if a player brought a magic item worth 30,000 GP to a "Hamlet" - the Hamlet could pool their entire funds and - at the most - spend a total of 1,000 GP - if everyone in town gathered all their money and gave it to the party - leaving the party short 29,000 Gold Pieces.
The size of the town therefore determines the maximum amount of gold the town can spend for a magic item, and that the players can receive for a magic item they attempt to sell.
3. There are always issues in town - basically "wandering monsters" - again - random monsters in a town that are literally determined by the size of the town (dire rats in a hamlet, vampires in a large town, bandits in a hamlet, golems in a large town - and so on).
So...
What the GM attempts to do is calculate all the modifiers each "turn/month" - this in turn will determine how many things the players have to expand or diminish their population.
The larger the population - the more "stuff" potential the players can find/buy each turn. The smaller the population - well; you get the rest.
It has been suggested that the best way to make a city is to fully detail every single aspect of the city - each NPC, each location - each variable - each item, each piece of equipment and gear - a hoard of things that most players will never encounter or meet, but - if they do - then, it is all fleshed out.
That option is not available "by the book" - and will not happen - except for baronies.
The primary city that you have access to shall function by the book - no matter how the population is determined. Once we have the basic population - I'll roll randomly for magic items you can buy each month - eliminating ones that are inappropriate for the setting - and that is the extent of the magic gear you can buy. And the extent of the magic gear you can sell is specifically limited to the size of the town - which will be computed via modifiers - as per the book.
For now, it seems like the main opinion is to go by the rules in book 2, not in book 3. Either way is fine for me - all book 2 really does is give you access to more control over how the size of the town grows.
Book 3 gives you flat population based on story arc - coupled with few basic modifiers to certain skills while in town.
Either way is fine by me...
More on that to come in the next couple of days.
Combat manager This may help to make clearer maps. You could screen shot and send it out. Just a thought.
Cool, thanks! I'll look them over soon :)
Is anyone interested in rescuing the silver kobolds from the western side of the mainland? I checked the boards upon waking to find no postings, only a handful of discussion points.
Dain asked us to socially rp the rescue -- so let's do it as a group.
Shae, what do you want to do with Galen? He's your apprentice even though the GM runs him. Are you going to send message to him, retrieve him personally, etc? Is he joining us on the kobold rescue mission?
I'm totally down for that :)
This'll be my only post tonight. We can send mister to update Galen (with a note) then ask galen what he wants to do. Mister can bring that message back and we'll accommodate. It would be best to keep everyone together I think.
I got some job app and project stuff to deal with that's kinda killing my free time, so i may or may not be reliably in for the next couple days.
It's okay. I will move the "story" along with my characters and the NPCs. If and when people have time they can post social rp stuff.
Just finished out the new rules for new playable races for potential cohorts and stuff...
Yay... sorry it took so long, lots of math to compute for "fairness".
Okay - going to bed - more tomorrow...
Does Galen have a way to get over on his own?
There was one boat left there -- the smaller one which could suffice.
There was one boat left there -- the smaller one which could suffice.
That'll work. Since we informed him that the lake monster is no more I'll ask him to row himself over. Actually I'll send Mister with the unseen servant amulet and let that row him over. ;-)
Good plan. :)
"Uh - yeah... not so much... Remember; we left Galen behind to keep track o' the horses! If he comes over, the horses pretty much stick around unattended - no telling what could happen to 'em... Hopefully nothing bad; but unless you need him specific - he'd rather keep the horses safe; as it is our way home - at least, that's just my thinking on the matter..."
right then. He stays with the horses.
Okay if that is the decision then socially rp that on the board as Ry asked Shaezon what Galen had chosen... It would make sense coming from Shae the boy's teacher. ;)
I have things to do this morning but I will be posting this afternoon and moving the story along--unless someone else does it in the mean time.
I'd like him to join, but if he does someone has to stay with the horses.
Horses and griffons do not mix well generally so I can't have Dior fly there and keep an eye on the secured/tethered horses.
The ape-men are afraid of the water -- yet we may be able to convince one of them to make the crossing and supervise the horses in the old hall??
I wonder if Wild Empathy could calm them down enough so they can cross the lake ...
Horses and griffons do not mix well generally so I can't have Dior fly there and keep an eye on the secured/tethered horses.
The ape-men are afraid of the water -- yet we may be able to convince one of them to make the crossing and supervise the horses in the old hall??
I wonder if Wild Empathy could calm them down enough so they can cross the lake ...
Wild Empathy is for beasts - remember; though they are bestial - they can clearly understand you. Therefore - you are free to use basic Diplomacy.
To all -
While I'm happy to do any social RP with you guys - and interact as you may want - I'm more eager to see independent writing. If you want to continue status quo - that's okay - but I hope I'll see some juicy story stuff soon.
:)
FYI - if players are unable/uninterested in posting - feel free to NPC them in your story - perhaps that will encourage more enthusiasm - but at the least, I don't want anyone stymied because others won't interact with them.
Regarding Saravale/Baronies
Okay – so – here’s the thing. In the next day or so you’ll be seeing the annotated maps of the city – with all the stuff you currently have. Then – we’ll be doing a “month by month” roll, turn activity.
After each month/turn – you tell me what happens with your town, as in – what you want to spend the points on. Then we allocate the points – and you see what happens next. I’ll refresh the map – and we can go from there!
Baronies
Pretty much the same – though a bit a different. You’ll get a few notes in the ol’ inbox, not on the Paizo site – which informs you how much a month your “staff” will cost – and how much a month “income” you’ll generate, via your staff’s efforts.
I’ll need to know who/what is on your staff – and that will affect your barony and your income, and other basics. After that is set up – we’ll be able to go from there and decide what your “starting town” will look like, and how it fleshes out each month – just like the regular town. Naturally there will be a bit of difference – but we’ll see those in the coming weeks on your thread.
And then?
I foresee this part of the game taking about a week – maybe – as you’ll need to vote on things and work together as a team and decide what you want to do with the stuff each month/turn.
After the “year” has been completed – you’ll find out what you got – and you’ll be on “level 7” – your Cohort equipped (if applicable) – and on to the next part of the story.
Remember: This part of the game is a little more “micro-managing” then usual – but it is also pretty much more personal. You don’t need the entire group to tell me what you do with your own property – you plan it, you plot it, you roll it – and we go from there.
Social RP can be done on your barony sites with the locals – and the main site with the gang. Once your staff is assembled – it is pretty much basic “cut and dry” material.
Regarding Businesses
Pretty much the same crunch – but not as complex. We’ll work with that in the next week or so – it will give you a bite on what you find next over the year.
Please let me know if there are any follow-up questions. If I don’t hear from people I assume it’s because they have nothing to say. I still need things answered on the main board – and you should see a map for Saravale up in about 24 hours – maybe sooner. Good times!
Point!!!
we have a few things to take care of before hand.
There's the issue of the creepie-crawlies in the swamp, we haven't handled that yet.
ANd the spider cave with the black stone staircase, we need to react to the other guys discoveries and actions at Oleg's.
Unless we skip this stuff, or it goes off a whole HELL of a lot easier that i'd expect it to, we are not going t be through this part in a week.
Kae, during the "downtime" between books we have a year in which to do things -- during that year we can take care off the things we still have left to do or uncover -- like the swamp creatures and the Black Altar in the Spider's Nest .... That's how I see it.
kewl
Just curious to know - what do you guys think of trying to recruit a new writer during the downtime? There's a lot of pressure to produce story material here - maybe having a new player on board could take a little heat off of everyone.
Nothing is set in stone - just tossing it out as a possibility - let me know what you think...
What heat? To be blunt, if the present players in the game all posted more (and willingly interacted with one another) than they are currently then it would be fine during this downtime. Bringing onboard a new player to fill in creative gaps in storyline? I don't see how that would make much of a difference. Just my two cents worth.
I think we have a lot of players/characters to coordinate. If the new player isn't for a specific story purpose I'd recommend against it. Alternately, if the player wanted to take over one of the existing NPC's to give them new voice I'd be all for that.
Well - it was a suggestion - not a requirement. I just thought that having another person to chat with might be fun.
Even so - nothing set in stone - as I said.
Still working on codified rules for baronies (yes - it is taking longer then I thought) - more on those soon.
There are enough characters to chat with, as you put it. The point is there needs to be characters willing to interact and stimulate/promote a good, steady flow of conversation.
I would like to research Servant Horde as one of my spells. It's a 3.5 spell from Complete arcane, but nothing needs to be changed for conversion purposes. It's a fun spell that has always been a favorite of mine.
Servant Horde
(Complete Arcane)
Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Sorcerer 3, Wizard 3,
Components: V, S, M,
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: Invisible, mindless, shapeless servants
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell creates a number of unseen servants (see page 297 of the Player's Handbook), up to a maximum of 2d6 +1 servant per level (maximum +15).
Material Component: A small stick crossbar to which many lengths of knotted thread are attached.
If that's cool, just let me know. Thanks.
Also, Dain. Are you available on Skype some time in the evening to chat about plans and barony building and what not? I'd like to do some planning and get your input.
If Arasmes could be there too that's be great since we're building a school together.
Also I have a question for everyone,
What's the plan at this exact moment? Are we just camping out until we get back to town or are we going somewhere?
Also, when do we level up exactly?
We're camping for the night. On the morrow we regroup, determine if we bring all refugees back to Saravale (so we plan ... as no planning has been done) and then we set off -- as it will take roughly two weeks to ride back to Saravale (if the numbers travelling with us do not slow us down or something does not happen along the way).
I can be on Skype tonight - roughly 8:00 PM (possibly sooner) Eastern Standard Time.
I am nearing the ends for the formal rules for baronies - I have not begun work on the schooling system yet, formally - as you and Arasmes have asked to go by the book, so I have put that on the back burner for now.
However - I will be happy to discuss this further on Skype tonight - for now, I need quick break - but I should be on later this evening at the prescribed time :)
Okay –
So – who wants to get his party started?
(I do, I do!)
So – here’s what’s going to happen:
1. We are fast-forwarding the game – by tomorrow night you’ll see yourself on level 7.
2. To make things easy – give me a list of gear that you want, and we’ll go from there – especially considering the money.
3. Baronies/school:
I’m not finished with the details yet – but I am close – but we’re going to be doing a few things.
A) I intend to let those details crop up via social RP on your secondary threads. You’ll just be ret-conning details over the main post – including how your barony/school turns out, and even your capital city. I don’t want that bogged down for now. I want you on level 7, with gear – and the next “quest” started.
B) I need to know if you want to be businessman, or lord – that will effect what direction your gear goes. If you are taking the feat Leadership – that’s cool. I’ll need you to have your characters statted out for level 5 – but don’t expect all their gear to be there. It may not be – depending on how things turn out. Just give me a laundry list of gear – and we’ll go from there.
C) To conclude – sometime June 1st we begin – formally – book 3. All your gear is in a state of “maybe” after you laundry list is approved. For now – pick and choose – don’t worry about cost or coin – we’ll go from there. Your town and wealth and baronies/schools will be ret-conned.
Finally – If you are interested in the stats for the new playable races, for a potential cohort – let me know, I will email them to you, I don’t intend to post them on the Paizo site for propriety rights. That said – I’ll be emailing you those details.
I’ll email you stat modifiers for new playable races if you haven’t picked one from the sie as a Cohort (if you want one – I know that Ry and Kae already statted theirs out – and so has Brett) – and we’ll go from there. If you already have your Cohort – put it up on the site, and email me your list of gear, and we can go from there.
That said – again – your town and details will be ret-conned via discussion thread; I don’t want to spend days and days debating on if we need a park or a dump. And this is a year of in-game debating – so we’ll just content ourselves with multiple issues about the town. Adventure – and the ret-con development of the town.
One last thing – remember; tell me if you want to be a businessman or a nobleman – we’ll go from there.
Good hunting!
I will not be on the boards hardly at all over the weekend (2nd and 3rd June) (today is the 1st for me) so I won't have any of those things ready for you and my characters ready to start Book 3 on your 1st. I will have time once again come my Monday -- 4th June.
businessman for now but will be pursuing nobility later.
I would like the stats for the new races.
i'd like to see the stats, just because, even though i got my cohort already.
so yeah. there's that.
I'll hopefully be on the board to catch up tomorrow, just got bogged down the past few days, unfortounately.
I'm thinking businessman to start as well. The school is "for profit," but it has a significant purpose for the kingdom as well. Specifically teaching those with magical potential discipline and keeping them in some sort of order. We don't want an untrained sorcerer to accidentally (or on purpose) set off a fireball or 3 in the middle of the market.
Righto’ Gang
So – here’s what’s going to happen, then.
1. You’ll be getting a “Year Long Review” – each month is going to have a short definition of what happened. Hate to do this to you guys – but; I’ll be writing it up much like I did earlier when you smashed the western coast to rescue the new folks. This is not to “take over” your characters, but just to get the plot aligned to where it needs to go next.
2. Regarding new characters: good news, bad news – you’re free to choose a new character type as a Cohort – but their gear is far more limited then a standard Cohort would be. So – for example – if Arasmes happened to bring in a buddy from Galt or Ustalav, sure – that would be a lot more liberal on their goods and gear then say – a former slave that escaped from the southern city; or a recently liberated Yuan-ti prisoner. They have less options for gear then a Cohort that comes in from out of town, as it were. Which is why I’ll need some basic approval.
3. If you elect a barony, I’ll need to know what grid on the main map you’d choose – don’t worry, we don’t need that spot instantly, just soon. For now, I got a hunch that Ariarh (who can’t post much this weekend) will want the grid where the ol’ temple of Erastil was – the one by the mysterious “Misted Forest of Doom” was located. She asked for it first – so I’ll give her first dibs.
Kae can choose next – and no matter what, Brett will choose last. Remember also, the barony must have 6 “hexes” around it free; you can’t put them on top of each other. The map will be emailed later tonight.
4. Businesses are fine – Shae – as I see it, you and Ras are joining the business together. You’ll be the president of the University – while I’m guessing Ras will be the Dean, or however you do it. But for now – Ras – check the Thread for Shae – dot it – he’s now got a thread for his university – as you’ll work with him – you’ll want to check it from time to time for modest updates on the school.
5. This stuff will take me some time – I’ll need to do a bit of write-up in general; as such, don’t expect it instantly. You’re basically getting a “Book 2 Review” – like you saw before, only I have to write the whole thing from scratch. Take time in the meanwhile to toss out a few modest plans – but depending on how much time I have and how fast I write – we won’t formally get cracking with book 3 till sometime a little later this weekend.
6. New races, etcetera will be emailed later this evening, just going over the final notes with a nice little “GM comb” – as it were. You’ll see them up tonight – with the map for where you pick the barony.
7. Despite your grumblings, I’m going to be somewhat innovative here – although everyone in the group (except for one person, you know who you are) – has demanded that my game be more challenging, subtle, complex, and “open ended” – that one person in your group has hinted all of those things are a bit nice – but they are asking for “structure”, “direction”, “a more linear plot”, “less things to worry about”, “an actual villain” – and other trifling things.
I know that we titans of gaming laugh loudly at those ridiculous notions – but; I also know that I’m nothing if not flexible (stop rolling your eyes!) – therefore – except to see a change with regards to that. The change is being worked on, too –but I believe it to be innovative – different, and you’ll see it also in the next few days. I hope that is acceptable for the rest of us to add a change that somehow – as that one person suggests “just gives the game a little more focus, a little more direction, unity, plot, and a lot less micro-managing” – (pshaw!) but, I guess that’s how the dice roll.
Okay – sorry for this last detail – you’ll see more stuff tonight – or, at the latest – tomorrow – I’m putting it all together for you. In order you will see –
1. Review of book 1 on the main thread under “summary of game”.
2. Map in email on where you want to stake your claim.
3. Notes on new races.
4. Finally – a quick diversion to streamline the trifling “complications” that some people seem to have with what is a simple sandbox world.
Lot’s of writing ahead of me – plus trying to visit family and stuff – must go about business – and then you’ll see things tonight!